Mover: Plastic-free down to the very last thread

You only realize just how ubiquitous plastic is when you try to give it up entirely. And “plastic-free” doesn’t just mean plastic-free materials—the devil is in the details.

At Mover, it took years of research and countless negotiations with manufacturers, producers, and suppliers to develop the first completely plastic-free sportswear collection—down to the smallest detail. The first step was selecting natural, high-performance materials: Ventile®, high-density ripstop cotton shells, 100% merino and alpaca wool (Swisswool®), and 100% wool corduroy. But the real hurdles lay elsewhere: in the sewing threads, zipper tapes, and label compositions.

Plastic-free down to the very last thread—against all odds.

The biggest challenge? Finding anyone who sews with cotton thread at all. Most manufacturers flatly refused—polyester was the only option. We quickly realized that it wasn’t just a matter of preference: their sewing machines simply weren’t equipped to handle cotton thread anymore. Decades of reliance on synthetic materials had meant that a simple switch to the needles required for cotton was simply no longer provided for. We finally convinced our manufacturers: Our thread is 100% cotton, multi-ply. We use long-staple Egyptian cotton, mercerized for high tensile strength.

The next hurdle: plastic-free labels. Industrial prints contain plastic derivatives; embroidered labels would have been the alternative—but embroidery thread is almost always made of polyamide. Finally, we found a small Italian company that is keeping the art of cotton embroidery alive.

We often joke that the embroidered label is the only proof of authenticity you need to recognize a Mover garment. If you look closely, you’ll notice a small loose black thread. That’s because cotton—unlike polyamide—cannot be heat-sealed.

Then there was the problem with the zipper tape: 100% cotton tape simply doesn’t exist as an industry standard. Metal teeth, yes—but every tape the suppliers offered was made of either polyester or poly-cotton. Even tapes labeled as “cotton” contained synthetic fibers upon closer inspection.

We couldn’t accept that. After a year of negotiations, our zipper supplier agreed to produce a custom 100% cotton tape. They didn’t just say yes to our request—they came to believe on their own that what we’re doing is right. Sometimes, all it takes is stubbornness and a good cause.

Threads, zipper tapes, and labels were the battles we fought hard to win—but they weren’t the only ones. Every little detail was reimagined. Even the way we designed clothing without elastic had to be completely rethought. Rubber cords became cotton cords. Plastic cord stoppers gave way to aluminum. Velcro fasteners were replaced by aluminum drawstring stoppers. Snap fasteners were made of metal. And for certain models, we source horn buttons from Portuguese cattle—a material with centuries of artisanal tradition.

Our prints are also completely plastic-free: we use only water-based inks—with no synthetic binders and no plastic derivatives. Every substitution, no matter how small, was a conscious decision.

Enthusiasm proved to be our most valuable asset. Convincing suppliers took time, patience, and perseverance—but we were able to win them over with our vision of what a plastic-free future can offer. Together, we have built a supply chain that believes change is possible: plastic-free, down to the smallest detail.

And that’s how Movers’ first 100% plastic-free collection came to be.